"Luc, can you help me, please?" I asked as I walked into the bathroom. Luc stood there and buttoned up the black suitcoat he'd chosen to wear. I had always found him attractive but the moment he suited up I couldn't help but stare.
When Luc turned around, he let out a low whistle. "I'll help you however you want, princess," he told me, taking in the sight of me draped in the red silk of my dress.
This had become an ongoing “problem” for the both of us. Time alone in isolated confines usually led to us wrapped around each other.
"Just tie me up in the back," I said, blushing and gesturing to the back of my dress, where two loose strands of silk hung. Luc stepped behind me and traced his fingers down the exposed skin of my back. I shivered at his gentle touch. "Babe..."
"Mmm?" Luc placed kisses along my bare skin. His lips were warm, and his beard scratched along my back as my heart picked up the pace. His fingers worked at the fabric of my dress in the complete opposite way to what I had asked.
"Stop," I told him quietly.
"Is that what you really want?" Luc asked and then licked along my spine and a moan escaped my lips. "Because it doesn't sound like it's what you want."
∞∞∞
Once we had both cleaned up and Luc had helped me tie my dress so that it clung to my waist, we walked down the stairs. Dante stood in the foyer of the house and raised an eyebrow.
"You two took your time. Do I even want to know why?"
I blushed and buried myself into Luc's side.
"None of your business, Dante," Luc told him firmly, pulling me close and kissing the top of my head.
Dante was the first of the guests to arrive, which came as no surprise. The house had been professionally decorated and there were plenty of drinks and staff around to keep people happy and entertained. Outside on the grounds, long tables had been set up for everyone to be seated at.
A knock on the door saw Dante answer to see Vittoria and Gabriel. "Come on in," he told the twins. "Lucky you didn't come earlier because you would have been left waiting."
Luc punched Dante’s arm before he kissed Vittoria on the cheek and shook Gabe's hand.
"You look stunning, Mia," Tori said, moving to me.
"Thanks, Tori."
"Truly beautiful," Gabe agreed. "You're a lucky man, Luc."
"Don't I know it," Luc said, and then he lowered his voice. "Keep your eyes and your hands to yourself, Gabriel."
"You don't have to worry," Gabe assured him. He leaned in and kissed me on the cheek before he whispered, "I have a gift for you, but I'd rather not give it to you in front of Luc."
The group moved towards the kitchen and I turned to Gabe. "Come through to the living room," I told him.
We walked into the room where Cerb laid on the floor. When he saw us, he got up and bounded over, earning a scratch between his ears from Gabe. "Who's a good boy?" he asked.
"What's the gift, Gabe?" I questioned him. "And why can't you give it to me in front of Luc?"
Gabriel straightened up. "Because Luc's not going to be happy about it, but I think it's a good idea for you to have it." He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a black handgun, causing me to take a step back.
"Gabe," I said, eyeing the weapon.
"You know what you're getting into, Mia," Gabe said. "You aren't stupid but there might be a time Luc can't be here or we can't be here, and you need to make sure that you stay alive."
I blinked a few times before stepping up to him again. Gabe held it out to me, and I took it, feeling the weight of it in my hands.
"You know how to use one?" Gabe asked me.
"Yeah. Dad has guns. He thought it was important I learn to shoot." I took the lessons but never thought I would need to use them. I never believed I would be in a situation that required it. If this was going to be my life, then it was more than likely I would need it.
"I'll talk to Luc about it, just not tonight," Gabe said. "Let's not have him kick my ass at your engagement party."
